Collier school officials and Sheriff Rambosk weigh in on guardian program to arm staff

Watch a Facebook Live recording from Feb. 22, 2018 of Collier County Public Schools Superintendent Kamela Patton calling a meeting to address school safety concerns in the wake of numerous threats to Collier schools.

Collier County Public Schools Superintendent Kamela Patton said Monday she will meet with members of the School Board and Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk in coming weeks to discuss whether school staff should be armed.

Gov. Rick Scott signed a school safety bill (HB 7026) Friday, creating the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, which allows some school employees to carry weapons on school grounds.

School districts will be given the option to participate in the program, which is named after the assistant football coach who died in the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland that killed 17 students and staff.

When asked about the program, Patton and Board Chairman Roy Terry said they had faith in the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to protect students.

On Monday, while addressing a League of Women Voters of Collier County luncheon at the Hilton Naples, Patton referred to the relationship between the school district and Sheriff’s Office.

She said the two agencies were working closely together after the Parkland shooting to ensure the safety of students in Collier.

During that time she was on the phone with Rambosk five or six times a day, she said, but now it’s decreased to once per day. Collier schools saw a surge in school threats in the 12 days after the shooting.

The school district and Sheriff’s Office declined to release information about the number of deputies protecting Collier schools, noting the information was tactical.

In an email Rambosk said his office is reviewing the legislation to determine which elements may be appropriate for Collier schools.

“We have a strong safety plan in place,” he said, noting deputies are trained on how to stop a shooter. “This or other programs may work in other areas, but may not be the right course of action in Collier County.”

Board member Erika Donalds said she was also unsure about whether arming staff would be a good option for Collier schools and wanted to know if the Sheriff’s Office could provide additional school resource officers before she formed a final opinion.

But Donalds said she supports the guardian program, as it could be beneficial to other Florida school districts.

“From a philosophical standpoint, I don’t believe in gun-free zones. It’s an invitation for criminals to bring guns,” she said. “I support the idea of having someone on campus who can confront an active shooter, but how that looks in Collier County — I don’t have enough information.”

The topic will likely be brought up at the next School Board meeting, which starts at 4:30 p.m. April 10 at Everglades City School.